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mediately after on his journey. Having thus agreed, he set out this morning for Connecticut, while I was obliged to send off messengers to prevent both ministers and people from assembling. We have full testimonials that Mr. Perkins is a young gentleman of an unblemished character, a serious mind, and good heart, and that he is possessed of very handsome abilities. My personal acquaintance with him is too short to make up any opinion of my own. His manners are pleasing, and conversation agreeable. As to his popularity as preacher, I am quite a stranger, having never heard him preach. I believe, however, that his nerves are excitable, and constitution rather slender. If he goes on, I hope he will be acceptable and useful as a minister. But, I must say I very much fear that, after all, he will fail of going. Finding that it must be considerable time before Mr. Story will reach Marietta, and conceiving it would be agreeable to you to hear from him (who sends his best regards to you, your family, and all his friends), I have sat down to write, and shall forward this letter by post. The circumstances respecting Mr. Perkins have made such an impression upon my mind that I could not help giving them in detail (which has intolerably lengthened out my letter), and must beg you to pardon me. Mr. Story has been very fortunate in having had almost constant preaching scarcely lost a day. I have been able to obtain his assistance only one day-the day after his ordination. With sincere regards to any inquiring friends, I am,

With sincere affection,

Your most humble serv't,

M. CUTLER.

If you should see my son, I will thank you to inform him that we are all well, and, if you please, acquaint him with the circumstances of the ordination. Will you be so kind as to inform me respecting the Land Tax? Are you to have a general Assembly this Autumn? What is the state of our settlement? What is the probable number of settlers on the whole purchase? Are you Federal? We hope Bonaparte is a prisoner, but have our fears. I sent a letter received from my son, containing an account of the celebration of Independence at Waterford, to Russell, Editor of the "Sentinel." He was

much pleased with the information, and prepared a long introduction for his paper; but, putting it into his pocket and going into the street, he lost both introduction and letter, and has never been able to find them. This prevented their publication. Pray favor me with a line. Can I be of any further service in endeavoring to procure candidates, or in any other way? You only have to command. Mr. Gerry is said to return a Federalist. He was at first little noticed by the first Federal characters, but attended by almost all the Jacobins. He landed at Long Wharf about one. The Federalists, by agreement, took not the least notice of him as he walked up State Street; not a hat was moved. It is reported that he declares no American can form any idea of the corruption and baseness of the French Government; that nothing happened while the other envoys remained to be compared with what took place afterward; that for several weeks he had not the least hope that he should ever see his native country, or even live from one day to another; that scenes of their corruption will be published when Congress meet which will astonish the world; that the measures of government are the only measures that can save us-we must stand upon our own legs, or inevitably fall; that he is pleased with the spirit of the country. Many continue, however, to blame him. It is also said that, on a visit to our good President, he gave him much better satisfaction than the President expected; that the President, however, can not get over his committing himself to Talleyrand, and engaging to keep a secret from the other envoys. Such is report.

[To General Putnam.]

HAMILTON, Oct. 31, 1798. Dear Sir-Finding it would be long before Mr. Story would arrive at Marietta, and not having written to you since his ordination (expecting Mr. Story to set out soon), I wrote a few days ago by post. This being so favorable an opportunity, though I have nothing material to mention, I can not omit embracing it. In my last, I informed you that Mr. Perkins had agreed to go on as a candidate with Mr. Story, and had gone to Connecticut, where he proposed to be ordained at

large. I think it doubtful whether he will be ordained, and, indeed, whether he goes with Mr. Story. My sole view in proposing that the candidate should be ordained at large before he went was, that the people in your country might be freed from the great inconvenience of sending a gentleman whom they might elect for their minister to New England to be ordained, and that ordination might be regularly performed in the Western Country. Since Mr. Perkins left us, I have thought much on the subject, and examined into the usages and precedents to be found in the History of the Congregational Churches since the first settlement of America. I am now clear in the opinion that, considering the particular circumstances of your country, it will be in order, and in conformity to apostolic example, for Mr. Story with his church, and with such other churches as may be formed, to perform ordination. The ordaining prayer (after sermon) and the charge are considered as the acts which invest the minister with the Pastoral office. These ought to be performed by Mr. Story. In Boston, it has been almost an invariable practice for the minister to be ordained to preach his own ordination sermon. It would not be improper for the ordaining council to appoint any one of their members, who might, beforehand, prepare himself to give the Right Hand of Fellowship. I find a number of the most respectable ministers in this vicinity perfectly agree with me in this opinion. When opportunity presents, I hope you will have the satisfaction of seeing ordinations solemnized in your towns. If I can do any thing in getting candidates to go on, I shall do it with the greatest pleasure. You will find in the charge to Mr. Story reference to the Ancient Works, with an explanatory note. The dimensions are taken from your survey, and, I conceive, are perfectly correct. What is said of the opening of the large mound, and the skeleton, etc., is taken from a letter from Major Sargent. It is doubtful in my mind whether the opinion I have advanced respecting the design of the different works and mounds will accord with yours. The limits of the note did not permit me to give any reasons which have led to my present opinion. I should have mentioned many things respecting the tribes westward of the Mississippi, and some on this side, which I have met with in a

variety of histories, but it would have drawn out the note to a length that could not be admitted in this publication. I should have mentioned other names besides Governor St. Clair as being present when the trees were examined, if I had not been under the absolute necessity of being as concise as possible. I think the account of the circles, which determined the age of the trees, ought to be preserved. Perhaps it may be well to do it in this way, as it will be in the possession of many people, both here and with you. In the newspapers, we are told there is to be a general court held at Marietta this autumn. If there is, will you be so kind as to give me a sketch of their doings? It would be a satisfaction to be informed of the probable number of people on our purchase and the present state of the settlements. When you find leisure, pray be so kind as to favor me with a line. In the mean time, be assured that I am,

. . .

Your most affectionate friend and humble serv't,
HON. JUDGE PUTNAM.

M. CUTLER.

CHARGE BY REV. DR. CUTLER, AT THE ORDINATION OF REV. MR. STORY, PASTOR OF THE CHURCH AT MARIETTA, OHIO, GIVEN AT HAMILTON, MASS., AUGUST 15, 1798.

You are now, Sir, by the laying on of hands, and solemn prayer to God, set apart to the work of the Gospel Ministry. To your special care and charge are committed the Church and Christian Society at Marietta, by whose express desire you are ordained their pastor. In the name of the great Head of the church, we most solemnly charge you to be a faithful minister of the gospel. Take heed to the ministry which you have received and fulfill it. Preach the word in its purity and simplicity. Let the most interesting truths, contained in the oracles of God, be the leading subjects of your public discourses. Apply yourself with zeal and industry to the duties of your office. Improve the talent you have received, and bring to the people the beaten oil of the Sanctuary. Shun not to declare the whole counsel of God. As a wise instructor, teach every man; as a true watchman, warn every man; as a faithful shepherd, feed, in all seasons, the flock of God, feed Christ's sheep, feed his lambs. You are engaging in the work

of the ministry at a time when infidelity is openly professed, when it is propagated with artful industry. Attend to the internal and external evidences of divine revelation, and be always ready with those substantial arguments, in support of the authenticity of the Scriptures, which will silence gainsayers and evince the reasonableness of the Christian faith. My Brother! Take heed to yourself. Instruct your people by your own example; live the religion you recommend to them. Let it be your concern that the temper of your mind, as well as the tenor of your conduct, accord with the spirit of the gospel. Feel your dependence, and, by ardent and daily supplication, seek to Heaven for divine influence. In the course of your services at the Altar of God, you are to administer the sacraments of the New Testament, baptism, and the Lord's supper to all proper subjects, making the word of God your rule, and strictly adhering to the sacred institutions. You are to preside in the government of the church with prudence and firmness. You are to dispense the discipline of God's house with faithfulness and impartiality. You are now, Sir, vested with power to ordain and separate others to the work of the ministry. In the new and extended country where you are to labor we hope there will be frequent occasions for the exercise of this part of the ministerial office. We must give it in solemn charge, that you commit this trust to faithful men-to such as are able to teach others, to men whose acquirements and whose characters will not be a reproach to the ministry. Remember, you are to lay hands suddenly on no man. To see the many new societies now forming in your vicinity supplied with able and faithful ministers, must be an object near your heart. It is in every view highly important to them, for it intimately concerns their political and social as well as their spiritual and eternal interests. There is no description of men capable of doing more, in promoting the peace, order, and real prosperity of an infant country, than wise, active, and faithful ministers. May it never be forgotten that an unlearned, unskillful, and immoral ministry is one of the greatest evils that can befall the church of God. Sensible that to you the care of souls is committed, you will watch for them as one that must give an account.

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